Are you expecting to hear Him?
However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself, but whatever He hears, He shall speak. And He will announce to you things to come. (John 16:13)
I am often asked for advice and counsel and I always try to be helpful.
However, it is alarming that so many look to man for answers and never
expect to hear from God. It is as if the subject of hearing God for
oneself is not even considered. If you ask someone, “What has the Lord
told you?”, you are often met with a blank stare. Most Christians have
no idea that they are able to hear God.
The problem begins with the fact that we live our lives much as we did before we were born again. We allow our senses and emotions to rule us and we look to the world for wisdom and acceptance. In a sense we are living by “bread alone.”
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Mt. 4:4)
As spiritual beings, we are created to live by the words of God. That is our “default setting.” When we ignore the words of the Spirit, we are creating an environment in which we will seem just as lost and confused as unbelievers.
While godly counsel is certainly helpful and needed as we grow in wisdom, it does not produce faith. Faith comes by hearing God (Rom. 10:17). As James says, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray” (James 5:13). Why? Because prayer is the environment for hearing. Prayer takes our eyes off of the need and puts them on the Answer. Prayer sees the unseen. Prayer tunes in to the voice of God. Prayer expects to hear.
Exercise yourself in the area of hearing God. Make sure what you hear is based on God’s Word. The Spirit will lead you to the Truth of the Word. Faith will be activated and your life will enter a new dimension.
The problem begins with the fact that we live our lives much as we did before we were born again. We allow our senses and emotions to rule us and we look to the world for wisdom and acceptance. In a sense we are living by “bread alone.”
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Mt. 4:4)
As spiritual beings, we are created to live by the words of God. That is our “default setting.” When we ignore the words of the Spirit, we are creating an environment in which we will seem just as lost and confused as unbelievers.
While godly counsel is certainly helpful and needed as we grow in wisdom, it does not produce faith. Faith comes by hearing God (Rom. 10:17). As James says, “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray” (James 5:13). Why? Because prayer is the environment for hearing. Prayer takes our eyes off of the need and puts them on the Answer. Prayer sees the unseen. Prayer tunes in to the voice of God. Prayer expects to hear.
Exercise yourself in the area of hearing God. Make sure what you hear is based on God’s Word. The Spirit will lead you to the Truth of the Word. Faith will be activated and your life will enter a new dimension.
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